Dear HIFA colleagues,
A page on the WHO wesbite now reads: 'WHO is championing universal access to credible health information'
https://www.who.int/health-topics/infodemic#tab=tab_2
WHAT THIS MEANS IN PRACTICE
For many of us, WHO has been the world's most important provider of reliable healthcare information. It has also spearheaded several initiatives that provide practical support (eg Research4Life).
This new text on the WHO website indicates that WHO is ready to take a leading role towards a specific goal: universal access to reliable healthcare information. To our knowledge, this is the first time that WHO has explicitly embraced this vision.
NEXT STEPS?
I think our first priority is to learn from WHO how they define 'universal access to credible health information'.
HIFA uses the term 'universal access to reliable healthcare information', which we define as 'a world where every person, every health worker and every policymaker has access to the information they need to protect their own health and the health of others'.
A second priority is to understand how WHO sees its role as a champion of universal access. Does this mean 'business as usual' (ie providing information and spearheading initiatives) or does it mean that WHO will now take the lead to develop a strategy for the realisation of universal access?
A third priority is for us to implement the HIFA-WHO Collaboration Plan 2025-2027, which aligns with all the above. In this plan, agreed with WHO, we (HIFA) are committed ‘To inform and support WHO’s work to accelerate progress towards universal access to reliable healthcare information.’ This is overseen by the HIFA-WHO Collaboration Group and we have developed a draft funding proposal. We need $30k to fund this work. We are also reaching out to organisations for technical support.
Can you or your organisation offer financial or technical support? Please contact me: neil@hifa.org
A fourth priority is to explore with WHO staff how we can take this forward. This consultative approach is central to our funding proposal and we have identified a senior staff person at WHO to facilitate this.
A fifth priority is to encourage WHO to issue a news release to announce its commitment to 'universal access to credible health information'. The wording we have seen on the WHO website is buried in the third paragraph of a page about infodemic management. Little will happen if WHO does not publicise its decision.
Together we can achieve universal access to reliable healthcare information.
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA in official relations with WHO: https://www.hifa.org/projects/hifa-official-relations-who
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org